Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1887-04-29
dropped her pipe and stared at her in

dropped her pipe aud stared at her il
great amaZement.
"Well, eff you'uns don't beat all
Last Sunday a-slightin' Gabe Plum
mcr at meelin', an now mighty nigh
a.breakin' yer neck ter git him outer
the way o. the raiders"
"Gabe wasn't the only one thar
said the girl in low tone.
But it stands ter reason you'uns
wouldn't 'a'done t,ef he hadn't'a n
thar. Yer pap may hev ter look fer
NV farm hand arter ELL" with q
touch tt facetious humor, but watch.
ing the S low reddening of the girls
throat and face, Standnege came to
her aid.
"Let her be, ma, an work it out in
her own mind. Thar amt no
'coun tim fer the doin's o. wimmun
folks, no how. They are mighty on.
certain creeturs."
"Why, pap!" exclaimed his eldest
daughter, a mixture Of indignation
anu repr0acn In her tone.
IN ow, l amt a-meanin' ter throw
of on 'em, an l don't say as they
amt ell steddy enough when they
settle down, but gal in love is the
oncertaintest ereetur that ever lived.
Now S'phiry Ann amt. -lackin' in
common sense an grit, if she does
belong to me-" he continued, with
calm impartiality; "an' eff she wants
ter marry Gabe Plummer fore craps
air laid by, she kin do it "
But it was Monday again, and
S'phiry felt that her fortune was still
an unsettled thing.
"Ef it hadn't a. ben for thinkin' o.
Al Hendries' wife," she said to her
self again and again. and the old
spinning wheel few swiftly beneath
strong young fingers, and the yellow
corn husk on the spindle filed slowly
with smoothe. even thread. She
could look as downcast and troubled
as her heart prompted. for no curious
eyes were resting on her. Was it
true? A shadow suddenly darkened
the doorway
"Howd'y' do, S'phiry ADM"
The half twisted thread fell from
her fingers, writhed and rolled along
the floor, fair sport for the kitten la
zily coiled on the hearth, while she
turned toward the secretly wished
for but unexpected visitor. She trem.
bled and the color in her face flushed
and paled.
"Gabe l' Then quickly, and with
swift searching glance toward the
road, sis it safe fer you'uns ter be
here?"
Eyes, they air gone-an' ter the
the devil, l hope" He leaned
against the wall, iaded, forlorn look.
ing, the week of hiding out not i'm
proving either temper or appearance
"Take a cheer an set down, Gabe, d
she said, vibration of tenderest pity
in her voice.
81 amt a-keerin' tu rest jest yit
That was good turn you 'uns done
US t'other night. No teIlin' where
we'uns would be now ef it hadn't "a
ben fer that. [ don't know how to
thank you'uns fer it, S'phiry Ann
he said with strong emotion in his
voice.
"Dont Gabe ~ she stammered,
STOPPING to snatch the tangled thread
from the paws of the kitten.
"Would you'uns "a done it fer
me?n
"'Tain't fair to be AKIN sech ques
tions," she said defensively.
'''Cordin' TO promise you'uns OH
tn marry me-"
81 said it if you'uns I'D go back tn
the clearin'"
Eyes, an that's jest what I'm
a-goin' tn do. I've hod a week O.
thinkin', an now Pm willin' to low
you'uns kin hev your way. Amt l
ben Altered tn put my head outen
the holler ?" he continued in angry
disgust; Altered tn tech a dead lea
fer the noise it made, Altered to draw
my breath, an tell ye l amt a-han.
kerin' arter any more sech days, an
tole the boys so, an Pm a-goin' back
tn the clearin' eff every crap fails"
S'phiry Ann stood by the wheel
her face turned from him. silent, mo-
tionless He waited a moment, then
strobe across the floor and laid his
hands on her shoulder.
"We'uns mus settle it now,
S'phiry. | amt a-blamin' you'uns
now, though l don't say didn't back
yander a week ergo, fer standin' tn
principle"
"If it hadn't "a ben fer thinkin' o.
Al IIendries' wife," she said gently.
I've BIN a-lovin' you'uns er long
time, an its time tn settle what we
air a-goin' tn do"
1.-THE clearin' settles it, Gabe," she
murmured, and turned her head
slowly until her eyes, softly radiant,
met his eager, ardent ones.-Mat
Grim in Century Magazine.